West Genny girls hold off F-M, Canandaigua

Wildcats pass toughest tests of early season

Judging by the early returns, the West Genesee girls lacrosse team may get its toughest long-term local challenge from Fayetteville-Manlius.

Unlike Cicero-North Syracuse and Liverpool the week before, the Wildcats surrendered first-half goals to the Hornets in last Tuesday’s game at F-M and had to work hard to the end to make sure it didn’t get too close as it prevailed by a 10-6 margin.

Through three games, WG had not allowed anything in the first 25 minutes, but F-M broke through, requiring the Wildcats to double that total in order to gain a 6-3 lead.

With the Hornets staying in relative close contact during the second half, WG had to answer those goals and then, as the clock wound down, play its vaunted possession game, something that could prove valuable in bigger games down the road.

Alia Hildebrandt scored three times, adding an assist. Hannah Elmer had two goals and two assists, with Vicki Graveline also finding the net twice. Riley Donahue had a goal and assist as Jamie Martin also got a goal. Grace Osterdale and Jackie Pardee put up one assist apiece.

What also kept it close was the fine work of F-M goalie Aubrey Deveau, who managed 16 saves. She didn’t get a lot of help, though, as only Lindsey Trachtenberg, with three goals and one assist, scored more than once for the Hornets.

Canandaigua visited Camillus on Saturday, and the Section V Braves gave the Wildcats its closest call so far, battling to the end before WG pulled it out by a 10-8 margin.

As with F-M, the Wildcats played a steady, if unspectacular, first half, and Canandaigua hung in there, only trailing 5-3 at the break. And they would play on even terms throughout the second half as the Braves had opportunities to make it tighter.

But WG showed some valuable late-game poise, and split the production nicely. Elmer led with four goals, while Graveline and Donahue both notched two goals and two assists. Hildebrandt and Michaela Ciciarelli had the Wildcats’ other goals.

Now at 5-0, WG played Liverpool for a second time on Monday before heading back home to meet another Section V opponent, Pittsford Sutherland, on Wednesday and Oswego on Friday night.